Welcome to Hillside!

We are currently going through the book of James. The theme for the sermon series is, “Faith in Action – The Decisions that Determine Maturity.“

Thank you for joining us today!

Today's Sermon

Be Mindful of the Power of the Tongue
James 3:1-12
Pastor Shawn Bowen

A Warning to Teachers (vv. 1-5a)

1. First-century, early-church context:
a. Teachers were held in high esteem.
b. Teachers were needed.
c. Teachers had a significant influence on the early church.
d. There were many false teachers and much false teaching.

2. Teachers will face a stricter judgment.

3. Teachers have significant influence.

A Warning to All of Us (vv. 5b-12)

1. The tongue has great power and can be used for good or for evil.

2. The tongue can be manipulated and exploited by the enemy.

Application

1. If you are a teacher, be mindful of your words and your influence.

2. If you aspire to be a teacher, be mindful of your motives.

3. If you are a human being, be mindful of the power of your tongue.

Ministry Calendar

Jan 11: Youth Group, 4:00pm
Jan 11: Young Adults Movie Night, 5:45pm
Jan 15: Men's Gathering, 6:00pm
Jan 18: Church Business Meeting, following the service
Jan 19: Prayer Night, 7:00pm
Jan 23: Young Adults Game Night, 6:30pm
Jan 27: Women's Ministry Tabletop Gathering, 7:00pm

Church Business Meeting - January 18 (Next Sunday!)

Please plan to join us for our annual business meeting right after the service on Sunday, January 18. We will be discussing plans for 2026 including ministry, missions, facility, and finances. Lunch will be provided.

Prayer Night - January 19

Join us Monday night, January 19, from 7:00-8:00pm in the coffee shop as we come together to pray for our church, our community, our nation, and our world. Please email the prayer team to submit prayer requests.

MINISTRY CONNECTION POINTS
(see website and weekly email for more details)

Women's Ministry
Women's Ministry is encouraging the women of the church to read the Bible, just a chapter a day, and join the TableTop gathering for discussion the last Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm.

The women's Saturday morning Bible study meets every other week at 9:00am at the church. For more information about the group, contact Andrea Flack or Jane Banzhaf.

Men's Ministry
We have a men’s gathering on the third Thursday of every month. These gatherings provide great opportunities to grow in our relationships as men encourage each other in our walks with the Lord. Also, we have a men's prayer morning at 6:00am on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. For more information about Men's Ministry, contact Elliot Makuh.

Young Adults
The Young Adults group meets at 8:45am on Sunday morning at the church. For more information about the group, contact Daniel Ayers.

Youth Group
Youth Group meets Sunday mornings during the service on all but the first Sunday of the month. The group also meets Sunday afternoons at 4:00pm. For more information about the group, contact Val Semich.

Children's Ministry
We are always on the lookout for volunteers to help with our Children's Ministry. If you are interested in helping out please contact Angela or Tom Wheaton.

Kids Camp
Early Kids Camp/VBS registration for summer 2026 will be available to Hillside, Faith Lutheran, and Calvary! We anticipate an announcement email in March. Dates for camp are Monday, July 13th–Thursday, July 16th 8:45am–12:00pm (Note the days and time change in our schedule!).

Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers offer one-to-one, Christ-centered, emotional and spiritual care for people in the congregation going through difficult times such as job loss, financial struggles, medical issues, or death of a loved one. Please contact Kristi Bowen if you are interested in meeting with a Stephen Minister.

Care Team Ministry
The Care Team Ministry provides transportation for those in need in our Hillside Family.

Prayer Ministry
The Prayer Team hosts a monthly prayer night on the third Monday of the month at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome! You can also receive prayer in person from 9:30-10:00am Sunday mornings in the cry room adjacent to the church lobby.

Meals Ministry
The Meals Ministry is a practical way to meet the needs of others in the congregation who are welcoming a new baby or experiencing challenging circumstances.

Golden MomCo (formerly MOPS)
MomCo meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at First Baptist Church in Golden. For more information about the group email goldenmomco@gmailcom.

For more ministry information, please visit www.hillsidecommunity.org.

RightNow Media

Hillside has an unlimited subscription for RightNow Media—the world’s largest streaming library of video Bible study resources with over 20,000 videos. The library includes studies on every book of the Bible as well as topics such as marriage, parenting, finances, and mental health. There’s even a library just for kids with over 2,000 safe, entertaining videos. To get started, simply click on the link below, create your free account, and start browsing more than 20,000 inspiring videos.

https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/hillsidecommunityc

Giving Update

General Fund Giving (Budget: $44,550)
YTD avg $45,387
January $35,614
February $29,504
March $57,997
April $48,910
May $40,667
June $40,266
July $57,413
August $41,859
September $33,617
October $35,837
November $62,040
December $51,602

Nicaragua Giving (Budget: $4,800)
YTD avg $4,081
January $2,910
February $3,308
March $3,845
April $2,675
May $2,890
June $6,590
July $3,150
August $3,820
September $2,845
October $4,170
November $3,670
December $7,925

Praise God for His provision and thank you for your generous support!